Hollywood beauty school with Mrs Dustin Hoffman

I loved meeting Lisa Hoffman when she came to London a couple of weeks ago to talk me through her skincare range and fragrances.

I confess, part of the fascination was with the fact shes married to one of Hollywoods greatest actors  and one of my favourites to boot  but needless to say shes charming in her own right.

It also struck me how uncannily she looks like Dustin. (Isnt it weird how some couples look like each other?) More importantly, she has absolutely lovely skin  smooth, even-toned, radiant and definitely enough to get me using her stuff. Plus, if shes had any work done, then I wouldnt mind knowing who did it.

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Lisa launched her own beauty range two years ago. Inspired by all the travelling shed done, she was determined to create beauty products she could just throw in her suitcase, that would take up hardly any room but still contain all the skincare shed need for a night away. Thats how her first innovation, the Lisa Hoffman Travel Packettes (£14) were born. (Ive since used them and theyre every bit as convenient and effective as she promised.) Now her range includes full-size versions of the products, as well as fragrances.

I asked her for her best beauty tips:

AM: You have amazing skin. How religious are you about maintaining a daily

skincare routine?

LH: Ive always believed consistency is key. Making sure you cleanse, moisturise and hydrate your skin every day is of utmost importance for your physical  and emotional  wellbeing. Actually, my skincare routine is something that I rely on as a de-stressor. I enjoy the few minutes each morning and night as me-time.

AM: Out of your own products, which is the one you reach for again and again  and why?

My Vitamin A & C Serum [£84] is liquid gold to me. Not only does it contain two of the most effective anti-aging ingredients but it feels like silk and gives me such a beautiful glow. Sometimes I indulge and use it on the tops of my hands, elbows, cuticles, and the backs of my arms.

AM: Can you let us into any great beauty secrets you've picked up on movie

sets or from experts you've met along the way?

LH: One of the best tricks Ive learned on set is how to settle down annoying flyaway hairs: spray a tissue with hairspray and glide it along the top of your hair.

LH: Honestly? I so love spa treatments that even the worst of them are pretty great. The best one is always the one that's coming next.

AM: Have you always loved skin care products?

LH: Ive always loved and been intrigued by beauty products, and have been a product junkie since I was first introduced to skincare. But I remember always wanting to improve the products I had purchased. I often tampered with the products I bought, experimenting by adding ingredients, mixing and matching formulas, heating them, trying to find a way to make them more effective. I became so invested in finding the perfect formula that I earned the title Kitchen Chemist from my family! When traveling, Id gather herbs, essential oils and beauty products from the various locations we visited and ultimately these ingredients would make their way into my concoctions.

AM: What skincare advice will you be passing on to your daughters?

LH: Hopefully they've already learned what my mother instilled in me: that true beauty resonates from the inside. But when it comes to slowing down the ageing process, I firmly believe that consistency and leading a healthy lifestyle are key.

AM: Are you a healthy eating fanatic or more of the everything in moderation' school?

LH: I'm more of the everything in moderation school though I try to eat healthily more often than not.

AM: If I came round to your house for the evening, what would I get for dinner?

LH: Mac and Cheese... my Grandmother Blanche's recipe!

AM: Does your husband steal your beauty products  and vice versa?

LH: Hes given full permission to use any and all that he wants  he doesnt have

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